Bishop McManus and Catholic Charities hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at the St. Paul Cathedral Cenacle, noon, Nov. 23, in the cathedral basement. Dinners were also delivered to those who are homebound.
Father Michael E. Gaitley, author, director of evangelization for the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, challenged about 700 people to be part of history-in-the-making, as he connected the Blessed Mother with past and the future at a Mercy and Mary Retreat in Charlton.
Local high school students, Olivia Rampello, Emily Malone, and Kara Boissoneau, from St. Bernard Central Catholic High School, have raised $7,500 dollars to help feed the poor. The fundraiser resulted in the distribution of 22,222 bags of food to various food shelters in the area.
This year marked the 10-year anniversary of the St. Paul Catholic Schools Consortium. The Consortium celebrated with their annual fundraiser dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, where Michael J. Nicholson spoke and was given the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Bishop McManus told personal stories about meeting saints, and national speakers emphasized God’s love and truth, at the Worcester Diocese’s high school youth rally, held Nov. 5 at Assumption College.
During the month of October, 41 programs received St. Vincent Healthcare Grants for 2017 totaling $62,199. The Fund is under the oversight of the Diocese of Worcester. Since it began awarding grants in 1999, it has distributed over $1 million, averaging over $55,000 per year. According to Bishop Robert McManus “The Diocese of Worcester is committed to continuing the mission of the St. Vincent Development Foundation which raised the initial funds to provide for medical and healthcare assistance in the community in keeping with the Catholic mission of the hospital’s founders, the Sisters of Providence.”